Dangers of Holistic Medication
by: Dr. Amy Wolff
The past several years has seen the growing popularity of the \"holistic\"
health movement. That trend is growing in the world of veterinary care as
well. Many pet owners seek to complement or even replace traditional
medical therapy with holistic treatments.
Holistic medicine, including alternatives such as herbal/organic
supplements, aromatherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and massage, are
believed to support the body's ability to heal itself. In some cases, the
implementation of these practices may improve your pet's condition.
However, the same caution must be taken when using these alternatives
as you would with conventional medicine. When used inappropriately,
serious illness can result.
It is easy to be deceived by the words \"natural\" and \"organic.\" We believe
that if a product is natural then it must be safe to use. Remember that
some extremely dangerous substances are natural. Cyanide and arsenic
are natural compounds but they are certainly lethal. Care must be taken
to understand the nature of any medicine and its potential side effects.
Natural Diets and Vitamin Supplementation
Some pet owners formulate and cook their pet's diet at home – for a
number of reasons. Pets with special dietary needs are often prescribed
modified diets that may be unpalatable; home cooked meals may be
necessary. Commercial cat foods often contain flavorings, colors,
preservatives, protein or carbohydrate sources that are poorly tolerated in
some cats.
In addition, many people have ethical and moral objections to the
ingredients used in commercial foods. They want to eliminate the use of
animals as food sources, so they feed themselves and their pets
vegetarian diets.
A vegetarian diet for dogs, which are omnivores, is possible. On the other
hand, cats cannot thrive on a vegetarian diet. If you are considering
preparing your pet's food at home, ask your veterinarian for recipes that
give proper balance of nutrients and instructions for preparing and storing
it safely.
There is also the general feeling that a home cooked meal is just better.
Ingredients, preparation and freshness can be controlled when the diet is
made at home. But it takes careful research to balance a home cooked
meal with the necessary amounts of nutrients. There are many
components to producing a well-balanced diet for your pet with regard to
primary nutrients, vitamins and minerals. A common feeling is that if
vitamins and minerals are helpful in small amounts, then large amounts
must be better. Caution must be used here since overdoses of vitamins
can cause serious illness.
An overdose of vitamin A can cause bone disease; large doses of vitamin
C can cause stomach upsets; imbalances of vitamin D, phosphorus and
calcium can lead to bone demineralization. If you include raw meats in
the diet, bacterial contamination becomes a concern. The same goes for
raw eggs. Raw eggs also contain a protein that interferes with the
absorption of B vitamins.
Herbal Supplements and Cures
Medicines from plants have been used for thousands of years to prevent
or cure a wide variety of ailments. Most drugs used in conventional
medicine were originally derived from plant sources. While most plants
used have beneficial properties, it is important to remember that the
strength of the plant's active ingredients will vary with the variety of herb
and the horticultural practices used to grow them.
Herbs can be sprayed with pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers. They may
have been fertilized with improperly prepared compost, which can harbor
harmful bacteria. They may produce more than one active compound
causing unwanted side effects. They may worsen some medical
conditions. There are no standards for quality control in production and
dosages. Many have vomiting and diarrhea as a side effect. Onion, garlic,
pennyroyal, and ginseng are a few of the commonly used herbal
preparations that can cause toxicities if used inappropriately.
Even if your pet is taking an herbal supplement without complication,
make sure your veterinarian knows what you are giving. Some herbs
interfere with other health concerns and other medications.
Acupuncture, Acupressure, Chiropractic and Massage
Used as additions to pain relief and management of chronic conditions,
acupuncture, acupressure and chiropractic can be extremely beneficial in
making your pet more comfortable. Massage can be very helpful in
helping rehabilitate injury and increasing range of motion. The biggest
concern for this growing area of veterinary medicine is making sure you
have qualified professionals who have completed recognized courses of
study in the treatment of animal diseases. None of these procedures
should be performed by novices.
Before beginning any health care program, talk to your pet's veterinarian.
Many clinics are incorporating these strategies into your pet's total health
care picture. It is unwise to go to your local health store and buy a variety
of herbs and supplements to add to your pet's regimen without this
consultation. Any illness or sudden change in your pet's behavior should
have a medical check up before initiating any treatments, herbal or otherwise.
